IMPHAL, Feb 24: As an impetus for the promotion of indigenous cultural heritage, a seminar and festival of ‘Çhakpa Haraoba’ was inaugurated today at the Government Dance College, Palace Compound, Imphal. The event spread across five days is jointly organized by the Department of Art & Culture, government of Manipur and Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkatta.
At a simple inaugural function of the event, deputy director and program coordinator, dept. of Arts & Culture, L Keshorjit Singh articulated the need to promote the different strains of ‘Lai Haraoba’.
The inaugural function was also attended by Padmashree RK Achoubasana, retd Pradhan Guru, JN Manipur Dance Academy as chief guest and N Kerani Singh, Shree Shree Govindaji Temple Board, Manipur as president among others.
In a thoughtfully designed array of programs, the event began with the demonstration of a strain of ‘Lai Haraoba’ called the ‘Andro Haraoba’.
Several ‘Maibis’, village chiefs and elders performed a series of ritualistic dances including ‘Ngarakpi Jagoi’ paying obeisance to ‘Nongpok Lai’, ‘Khupak Yeibi Jagoi’ among others.
The following few days will witness the demonstration of ‘Leiram Haraoba’ and ‘Phayeng Haraoba’. The event will conclude on February 28 with seminars from eminent scholars on the different ‘Lai Haraoba’ as well as its philosophies.